Fantini, M. P., Reno, C., Biserni, G. B., Savoia, E., & Lanari, M. (2020). COVID-19 and the re-opening of schools: A policy maker’s dilemma. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 46(1), 1–3
The article investigates the critical implications on children in the short- and long-term, regarding the reopening of schools. Fantini, Reno, Biserni, Savoia, and Lanari (2020) highlight that one of the measures to curtail the COVID-19, which broke out in Wuhan, China, was closure of schools. The authors suggest that the closure of schools could affect children, which necessitates mechanisms to reopen them without risking the greater community, such as the phase of gradual lifting of social isolation measures. In addition, the article contains important information on the effect of closure of schools on the social and emotional wellbeing of children. Thus, the findings are useful in understanding the effects of the social isolation on children and recommendations to return things to normalcy for children to prevent the long term effects on their wellbeing.
Fegert, J. M., Vitiello, B., Plener, P. L., & Clemens, V. (2020). Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: a narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs in the acute phase and the long return to normality. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & Mental Health, 14(1), 1–11.
The article reveals the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on all populations around the world. Fegert, Vitiello, Plener, and Clemens (2020) indicate that the actual impact of the epidemic is the isolation, contact restrictions, and economic shutdown that are associated with efforts to curtail the spread of the highly contagious virus. The authors focus on the effect of the measures and policies on mental health of children and adolescents. They suggest that although the conditions could cause family cohesion due to home confinement, their detrimental effects are greater than benefits.
The article provides important information for research on the effect of social distancing policies to stop the spread of COVID-19 on children’s socialization. The information will inform further research on the actual impact of the outbreak and the changes it has created in children’s lives, including the lack of physical contact.
Influenza Season Quietly Took a Toll: While the world is focused (justifiably) on the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza recorded one of its most widespread and lethal seasons, killing an estimated 24,000 Americans, including 162 children. (2020). RT: The Journal for Respiratory Care Practitioners, 33(2), 15.
The article focuses on the possibility of the focus on COVID-19 to mask the toll of the influenza season. According to the article, “Influenza Season Quietly Took a Toll,” the death toll from influenza this season could be worse as all government and health care efforts and resources seems to be focused on COVID-19. Unfortunately, flu is also a deadly disease, especially in children, but could be inadequately addressed this season, posing the danger of more deaths than previous seasons. The article is not directly related to social distancing and its impact on children, but it will provide background information about the unintended consequences of the outbreak on children. The information is helpful in understanding the changes that COVID-19 has caused in the society since its outbreak.
Phelps, C., & Sperry, L. L. (2020). Children and the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many changes in the daily routines of children around the world. Phelps and Sperry (2020) focus on the closure of schools in several districts due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease. The authors suggests the detrimental effects of the closure of institutions since they are their primary centers for trauma-informed care and support. The authors caution schools to implement comprehensive plans for addressing possible mental health needs of children following the detrimental effect of the pandemic and related policies to curtail the virus. The article provides critical information directly related to the research on the impact of social distancing policies, such as closure of schools, on children’s socialization. The information will be useful for various parts of the study, including the negative outcomes and necessary support for young ones to overcome the mental and emotional distress.
Price, E., MacPhie, E., Kay, L., Lanyon, P., Griffiths, B., Holroyd, C., Abhishek, A., Youngstein, T., Bailey, K., Clinch, J., Shaikh, M., & Rivett, A. (2020). Identifying rheumatic disease patients at high risk and requiring shielding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Medicine, 20(3), 256–261.
While everyone is at the risk of being infected with coronavirus, some people are at a higher danger due to underlying conditions. Price et al. (2020) suggest the heightened risk in individuals with autoimmune diseases, whose immunity is diminished and could be at a higher risk compared to the general population. One such population is individuals with rheumatic disease, who should be identified and shielded from COVID-19. The article provides information on the challenges involved in the management of COVID-19 in the most-at-risk individuals due to underlying conditions. Notably, some of the people in the population are children who have to be isolated to protect them from the infection. The social isolation could have critical consequences on their mental health, which makes the article relevant to the current study.
Sinha, I. P., & Kaleem, M. (2020). The role of pulmonary CT scans for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Medicine, 18(1), 1–2.
The article focuses on the limitations in the area of diagnosing children with COVID-19, which is a new type of coronavirus, taking its toll more on adults than children. Sinha and Kaleem (2020) focus on the viability of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in testing COVID-19 in children. Current research supports the utilization of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scanning for adult patients, but for children the test lacks adequate support of viability. The article is not directly related to the effect of COVID-19 and related policies on socialization on children, but provides essential information about the changes it has created in the way they receive health care. Therefore, it will provide useful information for the study on the background and overall impact of COVID-19 on the lives of children.
Vilar-Compte, M., Pérez, V., Teruel, G., Alonso, A., & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2020). Costing of actions to safeguard vulnerable Mexican households with young children from the consequences of COVID-19 social distancing measures. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19(1), 1–3.
The article focuses on the impact of COVID-19, especially the measures imposed to control its spread, such as social distancing on families in Mexico. Vilar-Compte, Pérez, Teruel, Alonso, and Pérez-Escamilla (2020) studied the impact of the epidemic on families who depend on formal employment, and particularly those with young children, whose impact of the crisis could be long-term. The authors further made recommendations for the government, focusing on the actual cost, of taking adequate actions to shield families from the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 and social distancing policies. The article relates to the current research on the effect of the policies implemented to curtail the spread of COVID-19 on children, most of whom are out of school and lack necessary contact with peers and the rest of the society. The authors will provide critical information for the background of the study on the short- and long-term implications of COVID-19 and related policies to curtail its spread.
Vogel, G., & Couzin-Frankel, J. (2020). Children’s role in pandemic is still a puzzle. Science, 368(6491), 562–563
The article focuses on the uncertain role of children in the COVID-19 pandemic, especially now that many are out of school due to the social distancing policies. While families are eager for schools to reopen, the actual implications of the pandemic on children remains largely unexplored. Vogel and Couzin-Frankel (2020) suggest that children have been infected and affected by the crisis, creating the need to explore their role in the crisis, as well as the short- and long-term effects of the virus on their lives. The article has implications on the current study on the effects of COVID-19 on the socialization process especially as children remain at home while they should be at school. The findings will inform the negative effects and the attempts to engage children to find solutions to the problems that affect them directly since the outbreak.
References
Fantini, M. P., Reno, C., Biserni, G. B., Savoia, E., & Lanari, M. (2020). COVID-19 and the re-opening of schools: a policy maker’s dilemma. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 46(1), 1–3. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.1186/s13052-020-00844-1
Fegert, J. M., Vitiello, B., Plener, P. L., & Clemens, V. (2020). Challenges and burden of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for child and adolescent mental health: a narrative review to highlight clinical and research needs in the acute phase and the long return to normality. Child & Adolescent Psychiatry & Mental Health, 14(1), 1–11. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.1186/s13034-020-00329-3
Influenza Season Quietly Took a Toll: While the world is focused (justifiably) on the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza recorded one of its most widespread and lethal seasons, killing an estimated 24,000 Americans, including 162 children. (2020). RT: The Journal for Respiratory Care Practitioners, 33(2), 15.
Phelps, C., & Sperry, L. L. (2020). Children and the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.1037/tra0000861
Price, E., MacPhie, E., Kay, L., Lanyon, P., Griffiths, B., Holroyd, C., Abhishek, A., Youngstein, T., Bailey, K., Clinch, J., Shaikh, M., & Rivett, A. (2020). Identifying rheumatic disease patients at high risk and requiring shielding during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Medicine, 20(3), 256–261. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.7861/clinmed.2020-0149
Sinha, I. P., & Kaleem, M. (2020). The role of pulmonary CT scans for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Medicine, 18(1), 1–2. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.1186/s12916-020-01647-1
Vilar-Compte, M., Pérez, V., Teruel, G., Alonso, A., & Pérez-Escamilla, R. (2020). Costing of actions to safeguard vulnerable Mexican households with young children from the consequences of COVID-19 social distancing measures. International Journal for Equity in Health, 19(1), 1–3. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.1186/s12939-020-01187-3
Vogel, G., & Couzin-Frankel, J. (2020). Children’s role in pandemic is still a puzzle. Science, 368(6491), 562–563. https://doi-org.libproxy.troy.edu/10.1126/science.368.6491.562